Even when he was injured and on the sidelines, Jesus Rodriguez never stopped trying to help out Greenwood’s offensive line.

That didn’t surprise Rangers head coach Shad Hanna, who called the junior a “coach on the field.”

“What was great about Jesus is that he would stand behind the huddle or from the defensive view from the back and he would get a mental rep on every rep the line took,” Hanna said. “He would do his rehab and then he would be watching. He didn’t take time off. He may have taken some time off from playing games but mentally he was focused the entire time.”

After missing six weeks because of a knee injury, Rodriguez returned to the line during last week’s 14-3 victory against Pecos and now the Rangers (5-5) are at full strength up front as they enter the Class 4A Division II playoffs with a bi-district game against Iowa Park (6-4) at 2 p.m. today at Abilene Wylie.

“Since I’m back, we have an opportunity to work as a group and be more successful,” said the soft-spoken Rodriguez. “It was very tough knowing that I wasn’t there to help out. I was trying to coach them on the sidelines and trying to do whatever they needed, just trying to be there for them.”

Rodriguez, who moved from center to left guard, joins brother and junior center Felix Rodriguez, senior left tackle Sean Strickland, sophomore right guard Nick Medrano and senior right tackle Jayden Lane on the line as the Rangers make their first playoff appearance in two years.

“I just like it because we’re back on track after a 2-8 season,” Strickland said. “We’re back in the playoffs and we’re right where we need to be. We’re playing a good team, so it’s going to be a good challenge right off the bat. We’re also peaking at the right time right as we’re starting the playoffs.”

Strickland added that it’s also a good feeling to know that Rodriguez is back in the lineup.

“It was tough but we had people step up and they actually helped us maintain the camaraderie and fill that spot whenever we needed it,” he said. “Now that he’s back it’s great.”

Hanna said even though Rodriguez is playing a different position than where he started at the beginning of the season, he remains a steady leader for the unit.

“When he was the center it was easy for him to be the quarterback of the offensive line,” Hanna said. “When he moved to left guard, it was kind of a different position for him to lead from but he’s just kind of taken over that position and leads from there. He makes sure everybody knows where they’re going and getting everybody set, controlling things and making calls. He’s a great coach on the field for our offensive line because he understands it, he really does and he’s passionate about it.”

While Rodriguez’s absence was big, it wasn’t the only one the line had to deal with this season as the Rangers used as many as nine different players on the line because of injuries or grades kept players on the sidelines.

“It’s just made us better because more kids have gotten a chance to play and learn,” Hanna said. “So it’s given us quality kids to which to choose from and we’ve really gotten to see each and every one of them in the fire on game night and we’ve gotten to evaluate them. It’s only made us better at the position and it has allowed us to find that perfect fit for us. And if any one of those guys goes down we know we’ve got a quality backup now and it’s somebody that we know that can get it done. You’re only as good as your offensive line and you’re only as good as your backup.”

Hanna also credited the work of first-year offensive line coach Tanner Street for helping the offensive line develop despite the number of players used.

“He came in a little green to the offensive line but he’s taken our system and made it better by tweaking a few things,” said Hanna about Street. “He’s taken what I like and what I do and he’s taken what he likes and what he does and has meshed the two. I think those guys have really grown to love him and I know he feels the same way about them.”

Like most offensive lines, these Rangers have also developed great chemstry over their time playing together.

“We’ve all known each other forever, we have that family bond and even Jesus and Felix are actual brothers,” Strickland said.

It’s that brotherhood that the Rangers hope will lead them past Iowa Park and toward what they hope will be a good playoff run.

“Considering that nobody expected us to be there, it’s a good feeling to know that we’re in the playoffs,” Rodriguez said.

Last meeting/series: This is the first meeting between the two programs.

Weather forecast: Mostly sunny with a high of 66

Five things you need to know

- Greenwood clinched the third seed out of District 2-4A Division II with its win over Pecos as the Rangers overcame five turnovers in the win. The Rangers got a strong defensive effort and 124 yards rushing from QB Zach Redwine before leaving the game with a toe injury.

- Redwine is likely to play today but has been limited in practice with the toe injury, according to coach Shad Hanna. RB Stace Bell (knee) is day-to-day after suffering his injury on the second play of the game.

- This is Greenwood’s first playoff appearance since 2012 after going 2-8 last year.

- Iowa Park, coached by former Snyder coach Aubrey Sims, got the second seed out of District 1 and is enjoying its first trip to the postseason in five years.

- Hanna said it’s hard to tell how good the Hawks are but knows they’ve got some size and a good running back and quarterback.

“I think they’ve got some talent,” Hanna said. “It’s going to be a tough ballgame. We’re going to have to play well defensively and I think the O-line is coming along and we’ll be all right.”